Chaboche



April 14, 1964 M. CHABOCHE 3,128,900

STOPPERS FOR CONTAINERS Filed Jan. 5, 1961 United States Patent Ofilice A 3,128,900 Patented Apr. 14, 1964 3,123,900 STOPPERS FOR CONTAINERS Miguel Chahoche, Paris, France, assignor to Etahlissements Pierre Remy & Cie., Paris, France, a corporation of France Filed Jan. 5, 1961, Ser. No. 80,889 Claims priority, application France Oct. 11, 1960 1 Claim. (Cl. 220-54) This invention relates to guarantee stoppers for containers and packings of all types, and it is the chief object of this invention to provide an improved stopper remarkable notably in that it comprises a neck-forming element adapted to be fitted permanently on an orifice or neck of the container and formed, at its upper end, with a cap-forming detachable portion having a fluid-tight bottom and adapted, after having been removed from said neck-forming element, to be refitted thereon for reclosing same.

According to another feature characterizing this invention, the aforesaid neck-forming element and the capforming portion constitute a single, unitary part for example by being moulded integrally with each other, the element and portion being separated only by a tear-off tongue or a thin strip constituting a zone of low resistance.

According to another feature of this invention, the aforesaid cap-forming detachable portion is adapted to close the neck by capping same.

According to another modified embodiment of this invention, the aforesaid detachable portion is adapted to close the neck by being inserted therein.

According to another feature of this invention, projections such as ribs, beads or the like are formed on the outer and/or inner surfaces of the cap and neck for retaining the cap or stopper in position on the neck after the aforesaid guarantee tongue has been torn off.

The advantages resulting from the stopper arrangement of this invention will be readily apparent. On the one hand, there is provided in a particularly simple manner, in a single part made for example of metal, synthetic material or the like, at the same time a neck-forming element and another element adapted subsequently to con stitute a cap for closing the outer end of said neck. On the other hand, the means, utilized for carrying out this invention are themselves particularly simple and permit at the same time to meet the guarantee and safety requirements generally found essential in stoppers of this type.

According to a further modification, the aforesaid tearoff portion is formed with a tubular, metering extension inwardly of and solid with the neck element.

Other features and advantages of this invention will appear as the following description proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating diagrammatically by way of example a few forms of embodiment of the invention. In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an axial section showing a stopper designed according to the teachings of this invention, in its closed, unbroken condition;

FIGURE 2 is a similar view showing the same device, wherein, the cap-forming element is used for re-closing the container;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 showing a modified embodiment incorporating a metering tubular projection, and

FIGURE 4 is a similar view showing the device of FZGURE 3 and the position of the various component elements after the guarantee tongue has been torn off.

In the form of embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in FIGURES l and 2, it is assumed that the container comprises a wall as shown at 1. This container may be for example a tin can or any other similar container or like article. An orifice 2. is formed through the wall 1 and the edges of this orifice 2 are turned down or inwardly as shown at 3.

The stopper proper consists of a pair of elements 4, 5 interconnected in a permanent manner or formed integrally with each other. The lower element 5 constitutes the neck of the container and is formed at its lower end with a circular groove 6 engageable by the bent edge 3 of the container. At its upper portion the groove 6 merges into an external circular flange '7 adapted to en gage the outer face of the wall 1 of the container.

The neck-forming element 5 is of substantially frustoconical configuration but it will be readily understood that this shape is not compulsory. At its upper end this element 5 comprises for example a first circular bead S or a rib followed if desired by another bead 9. Beyond these two heads is a tear-off tongue 10 or a zone of lesser resistance whereby the two elements 4 and 5 may easily be separated from each other.

The upper element 4 comprises a cup-forming outwardly projecting collar 11 formed in turn with an inner head 12 and, at its upper end, with an external shallow flange 13.

This device is fitted on the container by a kind of snap action. In fact, the user has simply to place the lower portion of the device in axial alignment with the orifice 2 and to exert an axial thrust thereon so that, due to the compression or elastic deformation of its lower edge, the in-turned marginal portion 3 of this orifice will penetrate into the groove 6. As will be seen from the drawings, it is not possible thereafter to remove the device 4, 5 from the container unless permanent damages are made to the former.

When it is desired to open the container, the capforming element 4 is separated from the neck 5 by pulling out the tongue 10. The latter will tear up the material between the two elements 4 and 5 to separate the cap provided with a fluid-tight bottom 14 and a skirt 11. If desired, an annular bead 15 may be provided on the bottom 14. Under these conditions, the edge of neck 5 will comprise a non-spill edge consisting of the bead 9.

To reclose the container, the user simply turns the cap 5 upside down to place it in the position shown in FIGURE 2. It will be seen that the inner bead 12 snaps to a cap-retaining position under the bead 8 carried by the neck-forming portion.

In designing the device, the only necessary requirement is to take care that the distance between the beads 8 and 9 correspond to that between the bead 12 and the bottom 14 of the cap. Similarly, if a frusto-conical neck 5 is provided, care must be taken that the length of the tear-off tongue is suflicient to permit the proper and fluid-tight fitting of the cap on the neck. In fact, to permit this fitting the cap diameter must be at the most equal to the diameter of the neck at the level where the latter receives said cap.

In the alternate embodiment shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, it is assumed that the detachable portion 11 is solid with a tubular portion 16 extending through the neck 5, this tubular portion being open at its lower end and closed at its top, as shown at 17. The guarantee tongue 10 is placed between the edge 18 of neck 5 and the lower edge 15 of member 11. In the example illustrated the element 11 constitutes a kind of annular wall surrounding the upper end of the tubular portion 16.

On the outer surface of this element 11 projections 20 and 21 are formed to constitute a groove 22.

Thus, when the tongue 10 is torn oif, the metering tubular element 16 with the part 11 may be extracted from the neck and when it is desired to reclose the container the user simply re-introduces the tubular portion 16 into the neck and causes the edge 18 to engage the 3 groove 22, as shown in FIG 4. Of course, the relative positions of cap 11 and tubular element 16 are a matter of choice. Thus, for example, the bottom 17 may be located at the same level as the end edges of cap 11, or at a higher or lower level, without any inconvenience.

Thus, it will be readily understood that with the stopper device of this invention a kind of fluid-tight bottom is obtained as long as the container has not been open, and that subsequently the separate cap or stopper is used for reclosing or restopping the neck by effecting a very simple snap-on operation between the co-acting elements such as the beads 8 and 18 formed on the inner face of the cap skirt and the outer face of the neck.

Of course, the invention should not be construed as being limited to the specific forms of embodiment shown and described herein, as many modifications may be brought thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claim.

What I claim is:

A safety sealing device for a container which is provided with an orifice, comprising an element made of synthetic material forming a neck, an upper portion on said neck having a solid top, a lower portion on said neck to be fixedly secured in said orifice, tear off strip between and joining said upper and lower portions, an annular wall surrounding and depending from said solid top and peripherally secured at its lower end to said tear strip, an annular groove on the outer surface of said wall, an annular bead at the top of said lower portion projecting inside said neck to cooperate with said groove after said strip has been torn off to permit a tight closure of the neck by means of said upper portion by translation thereof inside said neck.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,521,653 Schrader Jan. 6, 1925 1,849,763 Kronquest Mar. 15, 1932 2,392,195 Shonnard Jan. 1, 1946 2,661,128 Ricke Dec. 1, 1953 2,750,068 Platt June 12, 1956 2,751,102 Kihm June 19, 1956 2,804,987 Gaines Sept. 3, 1957 3,083,858 Biedenstein Apr. 2, 1963 FOREIGN PATENTS 70,174 France Oct. 20, 1958 (Addition) 1,057,012 Germany May 6, 1959 1,164,847 France Oct. 14, 1958 1,167,094 France July 7, 1958 

